"Best Practice: Family and Work Life Balance - Manual for the SACS Sector" now available
The Best Practice Manual was launched by the Victorian Minister for Industrial Relations the Hon. Rob Hulls on 17the August 2006 and is now available to the SACS sector. The manual is a partnership project between the Victorian Hospital Industrial Association and the Australian Services Union and was funded by the Victorian Government’s Better Work and Family Balance Grants Program.
21 August 2006 [full story]
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ASU Welcomes NSW Government Rescue Package
The Australian Services Union welcomes yesterday's (August 28) $100 million dollar State Government rescue package for more than 10,000 non-government community workers.
29 August 2002 [full story]
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ASU launches national SACS magazine
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services Bill Shorten launched the ASU’s national magazine for the Social and Community Services (SACS) sector in Canberra on 1 September 2008. The launch was attended by MPs and representatives of peak organisations and SACS ASU delegates, members and officials from around Australia.
12 September 2008 [full story]
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ASU launches social inclusion discussion paper
Last week Deputy Opposition Leader Julia Gillard launched the ASU’s discussion paper titled ‘Building Social Inclusion in Australia – priorities for the social and community services sector workforce’.
04 May 2007 [full story]
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ASU makes submission to Homelessness Green Paper
The ASU has made a submission in response to the Federal Government’s Homelessness Green Paper which highlights the need to address the serious workforce development challenges which are evident in the community services sector and the housing sub sector.
30 June 2008 [full story]
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ASU recommend agreement at The Smith Family
ASU officials and delegates are happy to report that after lengthy discussions we have been able to reach agreement around the bargaining table on the terms on an enterprise agreement to recommend to members.
18 November 2004 [full story]
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ASU to Chair Community Services Training Package Steering Committee
The Board of the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council (CSHISC) has appointed ASU Assistant National Secretary Linda White as Chair of the Steering Committee for the Review of the Community Services Training Package (CHC02). If you wish to participate in the communication forums, you must RSVP urgently by September 4.
31 August 2006 [full story]
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Becoming an Industry: The Struggle of Social and Community Workers for Award Coverage, 1976-2001
The Journal of Industrial Relations (JIR) recently published a very good paper by Briggs, Meagher and Healy outlining the history behind social and community services workers achieving award coverage. Many may not realise that SACS workers had to fight hard to gain the same rights and treatment as other workers. The protracted battle to gain recognition was finally successful as recently as the 1990s by the Australian Social Welfare Union which is now a part of the ASU.
16 November 2007 [full story]
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Bullying allegations at Wilderness Society continue despite Director’s denials
Despite the statement of Executive Director of the Wilderness Society, Mr Alec Marr, as reported on the ABC News website, that the Wilderness Society “never had in the history of the organisation a formal complaint against bullying", the ASU has been told by members employed by the Society that a culture of bullying has existed for a number of years and internal complaints have been made.
23 April 2010 [full story]
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Employment Services news - new category
We have created a new category for "SACS: Employment Services news" which from 1 July 2009 will house all news relating to this sector. Earlier news relating to Employment Services can be located in the general SACS news section.
01 July 2009 [full story]
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Federal Government leaves indigenous community services workers fighting for basic entitlements
Workers at Karu Aboriginal Child Care Agency in Darwin in the Northern Territory are arguing for their final fortnight's pay and long service and redundancy entitlements.
14 March 2008 [full story]
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Homelessness - it's not who you think
This week is National Homeless Person's Week and as the largest union covering workers in the social and community services sector, the ASU encourages everyone to become more aware of the real facts behind homelessness. There's a crisis out there with too many Australians sleeping rough every night of the year because there are not enough facilities to house them. Many are children.
04 August 2008 [full story]
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It’s taken a while but we think BoysTown are listening
Progress has been slow but there has been a little progress. BoysTown management, ASU Delegates, officials and bargaining reps met Wednesday 24 March 2010 to work on the wage offer.
25 March 2010 [full story]
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Landmark court ruling finds Vinnies guilty of unfair dismissals
St Vincent de Paul has been ordered to immediately reinstate two workers who were unfairly sacked for trying to resolve a dispute collectively, following a landmark decision by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission on July 24, 2007.
26 July 2007 [full story]
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Linda White addresses the 2008 ACOSS Conference
ASU Assistant National Secretary Linda White addressed the 2008 ACOSS National Conference on 9 April 2008 in Melbourne about the ASU’s view on the policies and practices that will need to be adopted if Australia is to become a more socially inclusive society.
15 April 2008 [full story]
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Linda White appointed to Australian Social Inclusion Board
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the members of the inaugural Australian Social Inclusion Board at the Board's first meeting in Melbourne yesterday (21 May 2008).
22 May 2008 [full story]
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Mission Employment says “No” to decent redundancy standards
ASU officers are surprised at the callous way that Mission Employment has responded to the ASU’s legitimate claims on behalf of member’s about to be made redundant by Mission. The redundancies are as a result of Mission’s loss of contracts in the latest funding round.
17 April 2003 [full story]
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National Day of Healing: Everyone's responsibility
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma, today urged Indigenous Australians and all communities within non-Indigenous Australia to support the many National Day of Healing events being held around the nation to show their ongoing support for reconciliation.
25 May 2005 [full story]
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SACS workers tell us your views
Following on from the launch of the ASU’s discussion paper, "Building Social Inclusion in Australia", which examines the priorities for the social and community services workforce, we are now seeking the views of SACS workers about some key issues.
19 June 2007 [full story]
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TSF Agreement Certified - At last!
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission certified the TSF agreement yesterday 17 February 2004. Delays in certification of the agreement were caused by a back log of matters in the AIRC. Originally the AIRC had scheduled the certification process for 28 February however the ASU and TSF intervened to make particular requests that the agreement be certified earlier.
18 February 2005 [full story]
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Tax Office ruling rocks Victorian community health centres
The Victorian Hospitals' Industrial Association (VHIA) and the Victorian Healthcare Association (VHA) have received advice from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) regarding the status of community health centres in Victoria. This advice confirms a past ruling that the government control of community health centres means they can be characterised as government organisations, and so they are unable to be charitable or benevolent institutions. This means salary packaging utilizing the tax status of a Victorian community health centre will no longer be available to employees from 31 March 2008.
07 March 2008 [full story]
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Time to Value Community Service Workers
The Australian Services Union (ASU), the largest union representing community workers in Australia, supports the findings of the fifth ACOSS Australians Living on the Edge survey which was released today which has revealed that there has been a substantial rise in the numbers of people seeking assistance from community service agencies which has either meant that agencies are forced to turn people away or rely on the unfunded effort of staff and volunteers to deal with the additional demand.
30 January 2003 [full story]
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Together we can make a difference
Attention community services workers, employers, representatives of peak bodies and other stakeholders in the Northern Territory. Would you like to be part of addressing urgent workforce attraction and retention issues in the non government community sector so that high quality services can continue to be provided to Northern Territorians?
29 February 2008 [full story]
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Together we can make a difference - launch of NT SACS campaign
The ASU-SA/NT Branch is launching your campaign in the non-government community services sector in the Northern Territory on Wednesday, April 16, 2008.
10 April 2008 [full story]
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Union & employer partnership shows the way to work-life balance
A partnership between the Australian Services Union (ASU) Victorian Authorities & Services Branch and the Victorian Hospitals’ Industrial Association (VHIA) has resulted in a new publication to guide the introduction of family and work life balance provisions for employees in the social and community services sector.
16 August 2006 [full story]
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Union flags national campaign - Fear and loathing grips employment services
The Federal Government’s proposed radical overhaul of employment services is causing fear and loathing throughout the employment services sector says the employment services union, the Australian Services Union.
01 April 2009 [full story]
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Union launches national campaign to save Job Network workers
The Australian Services Union is today launching a national campaign and website to pressure the Federal Government to save the jobs of Job Network staff. The national campaign follows the announcement by the Government that 28% of current contracts will be cut.
02 April 2009 [full story]
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Union lays foundations for fairer work: Union and Federal Government reach historic agreement
The Australian Services Union (ASU) and the Australian Government have reached an historic agreement which will see the social and community services sector as the test case for pay equity in the new Federal Industrial Relations system.
04 November 2009 [full story]
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Update on the Community Services Training Package Review
The Steering Committee for the Review of the Community Services Training package met on 12 February 2007 to discuss the timetable and work on this very important training package for ASU members and for the SACS sector generally. Assistant National Secretary Linda White chairs the Steering Committee.
01 March 2007 [full story]
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Victorian Govt averts community sector crisis, says ASU
The Australian Services Union has been fearful that Howard’s Industrial legislation could decimate the community sector in Victoria. Howard’s legislation would open the door to both unfair work practices and lower wages leading to an exodus of staff and reduced services to the community, if the State Government had not extended the protection of a ‘no disadvantage test’ announced last week.
25 September 2006 [full story]
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Victorian community sector workers’ long service leave portability scheme at risk
At a Portable Long Service Leave Reference Group meeting held on 25 March 2009 it has emerged that there is significant employer opposition to the proposed Portable Long Service Leave (PLSL) Scheme, which will place its establishment in jeopardy.
31 March 2009 [full story]
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ASU to meet with Boystown
As a result of your strong views being expressed on union involvement at Boystown, a meeting has been scheduled between Boystown and representatives of the ASU on Friday 25 May at the Milton offices.
24 May 2007 [full story]
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ASU wins increases to key award allowances
The ASU has won increases to expense related award allowances for the reimbursement of meal and travel allowances in four key awards: CASH Award 2002; Family Day Care Award 1999; CETSS Award 1999 and SACS (ACT) Award 2001. All came into effect on September 19, 2006.
25 September 2006 [full story]
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BoysTown goes through the $ details
Negotiations continued on the deep detail of the BoysTown proposed wages structure.
02 December 2009 [full story]
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Boystown disgrace – we must vote NO to substandard EBA
On every level the Boystown EBA is a disgrace – whether it is the process for developing the EBA, the contents of the EBA or the Q&As that have been produced by the employer for staff, there is no way staff can support the EBA that has been recently sent out for vote.
02 July 2007 [full story]
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Building the collective strength at Boystown
Your ASU Delegates and contacts are now working on building a wider and stronger collective to ensure that at all times all Boystown workers have their voices heard.
19 July 2007 [full story]
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Clearing the air at BoysTown
As a result of negotiations between the ASU and BoysTown management, anyone currently employed under an Individual Transitional Employment Agreement (ITEA) or an AWA will now have the right to terminate their ITEA or AWA and be employed under the BoysTown Collective Agreement.
29 October 2009 [full story]
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Down to business at the BoysTown bargaining table
Negotiations got under way in the second round of bargaining at BoysTown. The first meeting saw your claims presented and explanations given on the detail of the claims. The second meeting has seen the ASU and management start to work through the claims and seek to find agreement.
13 November 2009 [full story]
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Endeavour Residential in Qld: EBA update
The ASU-Queensland Branch recently met with Endeavour Residential. The lastest bulletin contains an update on the EBA meeting with Endeavour. It also outlines how members seek to engage in additional protected industrial action to support and advance our EBA claim and an update of the Residential List of Grievances.
19 July 2004 [full story]
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Endeavour Residential in Qld: members to stop work
ASU members working at over 90 Endeavour Residentials across Queensland will stop work for 1 hour on Tuesday 27 July as part of their campaign for payment for all hours worked.
24 July 2004 [full story]
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Fairness test? There’s nothing fair about the Boystown Agreement
Boystown have told us all they have sent the Agreement you are now voting on to the Workplace Authority for pre-lodgement fairness testing. The Workplace Authority advises that employees should not vote on an agreement while awaiting the results of pre-lodgement fairness testing!
06 July 2007 [full story]
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Family Day Care Services Award
This award has been the subject of negotiation between the ASU and employers in NSW and Queensland since 1999.
17 September 2001 [full story]
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History being made and never to be repeated!
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission will hear tomorrow, Wednesday 29 June 2005 the very last ‘fair’ increase to the minimum wage rates in many social and community services (SACS) industry awards.
29 June 2005 [full story]
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It’s finally time at BoysTown
After many attempts to commence bargaining over the last three years, we have finally got underway. Tuesday 6th October 2009 saw the ASU, appointed Bargaining Representatives and BoysTown management come to the bargaining table at Milton.
07 October 2009 [full story]
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Joint statement by Mission Australia and the Australian Services Union (ASU)
We are pleased to let you know that Mission Australia and the ASU had a positive meeting earlier this week and have agreed to future arrangements aimed at getting negotiations back on track and achieving a quick finalisation of the Collective Agreement.
03 July 2008 [full story]
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Meeting makes progress with Boystown
Friday 25 May saw representatives of the ASU and Boystown meet to discuss the Boystown proposals which have been presented around the country. The purpose of this meeting was to hear explanations from Boystown on their agreement proposals and to discuss process.
29 May 2007 [full story]
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Members committed to a collective agreement at The Smith Family
ASU members at The Smith Family (TSF) took steps today to demonstrate their commitment to achieving a union collective agreement. Members in Queensland have written a letter to TSF management setting out their concerns and their commitment to the collective agreement. Meanwhile members in Victoria and NSW are wearing badges marked with the slogan "AWAs? No Way" to show their stance. Union delegates declared the day a great success with many members remarking on how good it feels to be carrying out even small actions in support of their claims.
11 August 2004 [full story]
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Mission Australia - a new agreement?
Mission Australia an Employer of Choice? You be the judge…
10 October 2008 [full story]
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Mission Australia - some wins, some problems
Since late August your Negotiation Team has been waiting for Mission Australia management to provide some crucial information in relation to your new Union Collective Agreement.
25 September 2008 [full story]
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Mission Australia Community Services Agreement 2008
Your pay and all your working conditions are up for negotiation. Do you want to get the best Agreement possible?
14 February 2008 [full story]
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Mission Australia negotiations nearing completion!
The ASU, ALHMWU and the ECC met yesterday, 13 April 2005 to continue negotiations for your certified agreement with Mission Australia (MA).
15 April 2005 [full story]
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New laws bring an end to WorkChoices - what does this mean at Mission Australia?
The Fair Work Act has now replaced the legislation we all know as ‘WorkChoices’. The Fair Work Act brings a number of changes to the way we bargain for workplace agreements. What does this mean for employees at Mission Australia Employment Solutions?
31 July 2009 [full story]
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Now we’re getting somewhere at BoysTown!
Negotiations continued today with the ASU putting a firm position to BoysTown management in order to move this agreement closer to conclusion.
12 February 2010 [full story]
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Pay rates in SACS awards reviewed
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission is currently reviewing the pay rates and classification structures in a number of SACS awards.
17 October 2001 [full story]
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Staff negotiations for a union agreement at Mission Australia
Negotiations are under way with Mission Australia for a new Certified Agreement that will set your working conditions for the next three years. The first stage of negotiations
was conducted over two days of last week – May 28th and May 29th. The negotiations were slow and in the opinion of your
negotiators very little progress was made.
10 June 2008 [full story]
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Support workers at the Victorian AIDS Council and Gay Men's Health Centre
Working with the ASU, members at the Victorian Aids Council/Gay Men's Health Centre have been trying to finalise an Enterprise Agreement since 2004. Despite lengthy negotiations, to date the offer from management has fallen far below expectations. Members are disappointed by managements' refusal to consider their claims. In fact, many aspects of the offer put by VAC/GMHC are below the current SACS Award minimums, meaning that ASU members would lose conditions that have taken years for workers in the community sector to achieve - such as penalty rates and on call allowances.
06 June 2006 [full story]
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Tasmanian SACS workers get 12% wage increase
The Tasmanian Industrial Commission yesterday endorsed the ASU work value claim for a 12% increase for specialist, professional and managerial employees under the Community Services Award. This was an important case that the ASU took on to remedy pay inequities in the Social and Community Services (SACS) sector.
13 August 2004 [full story]
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Tassie SACS work revalued
The ASU has won the battle to have the work value of SACS workers in Tasmania officially recognised. The Tasmanian Industrial Relations Commission has accepted the ASU’s claim that there has been an increase in the value of the work performed by SACS workers and that this increase should be reflected in the rates of pay for these workers. This represents a substantial move forward in improving the conditions for these workers and forms part of the ASU strategy to have the value of the work performed by our members recognised.
03 February 2004 [full story]
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The Smith Family agreement discussions continue
In the latest round of discussions between the unions and The Smith Family (TSF) there has been more agreement reached on a way forward.
10 May 2004 [full story]
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The Smith Family agreement goes to ballot
ASU members around the country have voted in favour of adopting the draft enterprise agreement negotiated with The Smith Family (TSF) management. This process is an informal process that the union uses to ensure that we know whether or not we can say that there has been an agreement reached between TSF and the union. The process is designed to ensure members’ democratic participation.
06 December 2004 [full story]
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The Smith Family – ASU members around the country working together
Reports from all ASU Organisers tell us that TSF staff around Australia are united against accepting the organisation’s AWA. Our intelligence tells us that the overwhelming majority of employees will not sign the AWA and are insulted by both the way the organisation has approached the process and the content of the AWA.
23 March 2004 [full story]
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The Smith Family: staff survey results
As promised in our last bulletin attached to this bulletin is the collated results of the staff survey. We recommend that you take time to review the results not only from your state but also from across the country.
01 June 2004 [full story]
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The Smith Family: what’s happening with negotiations
Our last newsletter reported on the outcome from the The Smith Family (TSF) survey results and the fact that joint TSF–ASU meetings were being held around the country to ascertain employee input into the bargaining.
19 July 2004 [full story]
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The answer is NO to unfairness say Boystown staff
In a resounding victory for fairness, Boystown employees across three states have resoundingly voted against an unfair and unjust non union collective agreement supported by Boystown management.
10 July 2007 [full story]
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The vote is in - congratulations Mission Australia workers!
Mission Australia workers from across the country have voted “Yes” to their new Collective Agreement. 465 workers of 1167 voted. The “Yes” vote was overwhelming at 90% – however it only represents the views of a little over one third (36%) of workers. We understand the low voting rate – try as we might to engage everyone – it’s been a long journey!
19 November 2008 [full story]
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Update on bargaining at BoysTown
Negotiations continued at BoysTown on 16th November, 2009. A number of issues were discussed in detail. Below is a brief snapshot on the progress. If you require more information, contact your ASU Delegate or Organiser.
17 November 2009 [full story]
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Voting on the Mission Australia agreement to begin
Mission Australia is making your enterprise agreement ready from 10 May 2005 for you to read for fourteen days before voting commences.
11 May 2005 [full story]
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What Mission workers want – time to decide
Over recent months over 100 Mission staff have decided to join the Union. By forming a Union, standing together and making your views heard you have already begun to influence the process to get you a fair deal for the work you do – this is a fantastic achievement so far, well done!
20 March 2008 [full story]
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What do Mission workers want?
The ASU has surveyed workers to determine what they want in a new Collective Agreement. Over 100 surveys have been returned from across NSW.
10 March 2008 [full story]
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What the Boystown draft agreement says
We can’t show you a copy of the Boystown draft employee collective agreement as Boystown has marked it ‘commercial in confidence’. What we can do is take you through the key points of the draft and the issues that we believe will arise for you during the anticipated 5 year life of this agreement.
21 June 2007 [full story]
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Why is Boystown so afraid of working with the ASU?
We have offered our assistance to Boystown now on a number of occasions regarding their attempts to change your wages structure and conditions of employment through their unsuccessfully proposed non union workplace agreement. Boystown has been silent in their reply to us. You have been advised by Boystown CEO Jack Firman, that they intend to offer Boystown workers AWAs.
08 August 2007 [full story]
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Your claims presented to BoysTown
Your claims have now been presented to BoysTown management in order to get down to the business end of negotiations.
21 October 2009 [full story]
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5000 jobs gone in Job Network – and no one knows if it’s them
Up to 5,000 job placement workers could be unemployed following last night’s announcement of new employment service contracts.
03 April 2009 [full story]
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A call to action for Victorian Community Health Centres
Further to our previous ASU bulletin regarding our concern that some employers would be removing the ability for staff to salary package from 1 April 2008, due to advice from the ATO, this has in fact happened. A number of members have been in touch with the ASU, letting us know that they have received advice that they will be losing the ability to salary package as currently the case, from 1 April 2008.
27 March 2008 [full story]
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ASU action nets results in Community Health Centres
The action of many ASU members who took the time to email, fax and post letters to Victorian Health Minister Daniel Andrews about the tax situation for workers in Victorian Community Health Centres has netted results. Workers in Victorian Community Health Centres can now continue to salary package at their previous amounts until 30 June 2008. A review of the tax decision is being carried out during this time.
03 April 2008 [full story]
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ASU appalled at Vision Australia redundancies
The ASU - one of the unions that represent employees at Vision Australia (VA) - is absolutely appalled at the treatment that VA has shown staff in the last couple of days.
07 May 2009 [full story]
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ASU asks The Smith Family to halt AWAs process and start talking
The ASU has written to The Smith Family (TSF) asking them to meet to discuss the range of concerns that members have about the AWAs currently being promoted within TSF. Of particular concern to members is the fact that the ethos of individuality and the culture of dividing the workplace that has arisen as a result of the AWAs being introduced cuts across TSF’s core values of cohesiveness and team work.
16 March 2004 [full story]
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ASU continues to pursue solution for community health workers’ pay
As reported earlier this month, a ruling of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) regarding the status of community health centres in Victoria has the power to make a catastrophic impact on the income of workers in the sector. The ASU has been pursuing both state and federal ministers, along with other strategies, to ensure that members’ wages are secured.
19 March 2008 [full story]
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ASU joins Victorians telling Bracks to get a heart and stop the cuts to social welfare agencies
Today ASU members joined with other unions, community activists and service recipients in a "Day of Action" to protest against the Victorian Government’s savage cuts to community, social and welfare agencies. The rally was a huge success with over 5000 attendees.
12 August 2003 [full story]
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ASU makes submission to Job Services Australia tender inquiry
The ASU has lodged its submission for the Senate Inquiry into the Job Services Australia tender process. Our submission highlights the concerns of our members about the process and focuses on how future processes can be improved and the negative effects experienced during this round can be avoided.
09 June 2009 [full story]
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ASU members at Community Connections to take action in the name of good faith bargaining
Members of the ASU working at Community Connections (Vic) Ltd (CCVL) will take industrial action across the Barwon region in the form of a Stop Work meeting on May 15 commencing at 1.00pm. Please support the workers by sending an email to CCVL management asking them to enter into good faith negotiations.
13 May 2009 [full story]
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ASU national magazine for SACS professionals now available online
CARE PROFESSIONAL (or CP Magazine) is the ASU’s national magazine for social and community services professionals. It contains articles by specialists from all parts of the industry, from academia and government, as well as union advocates.
21 January 2010 [full story]
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ASU recommends vote Yes
Members at The Smith Family should have by now received a final copy of the proposed further Certified Agreement regarding salary structures for Community Program roles.
03 February 2006 [full story]
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ASU report shows SACS industry crisis looming
A survey by the ASU of over 2100 workers has revealed that there is a crisis in attracting and retaining staff in the social and community services industry. Unless this crisis is addressed, the new focus on the goal of greater social inclusion by Australian governments will not be achieved.
18 February 2008 [full story]
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ASU thrilled at Victorian Brumby Government announcement for SACS workers
After years of campaigning, the Australian Services Union is thrilled at today’s announcement of the Victorian Brumby Government’s support for the Equal Pay claim for social and community services (SACS) workers across Victoria.
19 June 2010 [full story]
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ASU to update SACS & CETSS Award Allowances
The Australian Services Union has lodged applications in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) to vary expense related allowances in the following ASU awards:
15 September 2006 [full story]
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ASU welcomes Federal Government action on salary packaging
The Australian Services Union (ASU) welcomes the Federal Government announcement last night that the Government will move urgent amendments to the law next week in the Senate to restore the use of the net reportable fringe benefits definitions for Family Assistance. This will maintain the current position and so ensure that thousands of ASU members in the community and not-for-profit sector who salary package do not lose the benefit of Family tax or child care benefits after the 1 July 2008.
20 June 2008 [full story]
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And now onto the next issue for social and community services workers
After a few tense moments last week, the Coalition agreed to support the Federal Labor Government’s amendments in the Senate to restore the use of income net of reportable fringe benefits as the measure for the level of Family Benefits payable. This move recognised the significant level of salary packaging in community services organisations.
01 July 2008 [full story]
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Bargaining begins at Mission Australia
Negotiations have commenced for your new agreement to replace the current Mission Australia Certified Agreement which nominally expired on the 27 March 2005.
08 April 2005 [full story]
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Big push starts for better pay for social and community service workers in Queensland
The Australian Services Union Queensland Services Branch (ASU-Services) will this evening (30 July) launch its campaign for significant improvements in pay and conditions for thousands of social and community service workers in the non-government sector at a special function in Brisbane.
30 July 2008 [full story]
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Biggest action on equal pay since the Seventies
Thousands of equal pay supporters will rally across the country at 11am today to take part in Australia’s biggest equal pay march since the 1970s.
10 June 2010 [full story]
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BoysTown denies workers access to union agreement
BoysTown workers are being denied access to a union collective agreement by their management. The ASU is urging the BoysTown board members to support the workers and we ask you to help them by sending an email.
28 August 2007 [full story]
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BoysTown threatens defamation proceedings against the ASU
The ASU has received a letter of demand from national law firm DLA Phillips Fox in Brisbane threatening defamation proceedings by BoysTown and its management against the ASU.
14 September 2007 [full story]
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Boystown confused!
All employees of Boystown, Kids Help Line and Parent Line in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia have received a very confusing memo from Chief Executive Jim Firman. The memo says that issues regarding your wages and conditions will be addressed in the next three months. The voting form attached to that memo says that you will be asked to vote on a collective workplace agreement in May!
02 May 2007 [full story]
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Boystown staff say Yes to union agreement
The ballot asking the question do Boystown employees want union involvement in their agreement has been declared today. An overwhelming majority of employees voted YES for union!
11 May 2007 [full story]
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Boystown still confused, or are they?
It appears the confusion throughout Boystown continues. The more we try to understand exactly what is occurring to your wages and conditions through the formation of a new industrial instrument, the more Boystown muddies the waters.
07 May 2007 [full story]
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Building SACS campaign momentum
An opinion piece by ASU Branch Secretary Sally McManus published on the ABC News website has instigated a lively blog debate. Sally's piece covers the crisis facing workers in the social and community services sector, a issue the ASU has been actively campaigning about since the publication of extensive research last year. We encourage you to participate in the blog to ensure your views are heard.
08 May 2008 [full story]
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Call to action for Social and Community Services workers - tell Senator Fielding it is time to pass the Fair Work Bill
The Federal Parliament is currently debating the Fair Work Bill which will replace the discredited and unfair WorkChoices laws brought in by the previous Howard Government.
13 March 2009 [full story]
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Campaign launched to protect vulnerable South Australians
South Australia faces a collapse in services for its poorest, most disadvantaged and vulnerable citizens unless the state government makes an urgent and substantial investment in the community services sector.
23 March 2007 [full story]
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Captain Community comes to Darwin and launches union/NTCOSS campaign for social inclusion through a strong community sector into the future
Urgent issues threaten the non government community sector’s capacity to deliver quality services to the most disadvantaged Territorians into the future.
14 April 2008 [full story]
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Community Services Workers’ Forum - Tasmania
The Australian Services Union Tasmanian Branch will be conducting a Community Services Workers’ Forum during the month of May in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie. The theme for the forum is “Securing our future wages and conditions”. All community services workers, management committees, and board members are welcome to attend.
21 May 2007 [full story]
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Community workers to send Julia Gillard kisses in bid for equal pay
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard will be asked to champion a ground-breaking Equal Pay Test Case for community workers with the launch of a new campaign aimed at closing the gap between men and women’s pay in Australia.
11 March 2010 [full story]
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Employment services engage in disgraceful conduct
In the wake of the announcement of changes to the employment services system, it appears that a number of providers who have lost contracts are trying to avoid their liability to make redundancy payments by forcing displaced staff to sign resignations so they can take up new jobs with other providers.
22 May 2009 [full story]
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Equal Pay Campaign starts today with launch of national test case for social and community workers
The newly-formed Equal Pay Alliance today called on all political parties and employers to properly value women’s work and close the 17% wage gap between men and women once and for all, as it launched a national equal pay campaign in Canberra.
11 March 2010 [full story]
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Federal IR laws threaten CETSS workers
If you’re a CETSS (community employment, training & support services) worker paid under the ASU's "Community Employment, Training & Support Services Award" your wages have been frozen thanks to the Howard Government’s WorkChoices legislation.
12 July 2006 [full story]
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Federal Minister signs pledge to support equal pay for community workers
The Australian Services Union (ASU) has applauded the Minister for Community Services Jenny Macklin as she pledged to work with her party to ensure that organisations have the funds they need to meet the costs of equal pay without the need to cut services in the social and community sector.
13 August 2010 [full story]
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Government to act on SACS salary sacrifice problem
At a joint press conference in Canberra yesterday Treasurer Wayne Swan and Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin said they will act to fix proposed changes to the way income is calculated for the purpose of determining Family Assistance payments for social and community services (SACS) workers who have been utilising salary packaging because of the PBI status of their employer.
19 June 2008 [full story]
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Historic day of action for Equal Pay
Thousands of equal pay supporters will rally across the country at 11am this Thursday June 10 to take part in Australia’s biggest equal pay march since the 1970s.
07 June 2010 [full story]
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Industrial action over at Victorian AIDS Council / Gay Men’s Health Centre
ASU members at Victorian AIDS Council / Gay Men’s Health Centre have unanimously voted to accept a Collective Agreement, thereby formally ending their industrial action.
18 August 2006 [full story]
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June 20 - WA rally for social and community services workers and supporters
The ASU WA Branch is staging a vital rally for social and community services (SACS) workers tomorrow in Perth. ASU members and supporters are urged to attend the rally to show the Parliament that you deserve respect!
19 June 2008 [full story]
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Justice at last – pay recognition for Queensland SACS workers
In an historic decision, with significant national implications, the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) ruled late yesterday that the work of social and community services workers in Queensland had been undervalued and that wage adjustment to the Queensland Community Services and Crisis Assistance State Award was needed to remedy this situation. As a result this decision provides for wage increases of between 18% and 37% phased in over a three year period starting in July 2009.
07 May 2009 [full story]
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Members identify big problems with Mission agreement
Details are beginning to emerge about Mission Australia HR’s proposed axing of pay and conditions and workers are expressing a whole series of major concerns with the plans and actions of their employer. Mission workers are joining their Union in record numbers. Mission Union members know that to have a strong voice in negotiations they need the numbers. Workers from across Australia are coming together to protect and improve their pay and conditions.
05 March 2008 [full story]
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Mission Australia - staff negotiation update
Negotiations with Mission Australia have been progressing well and we believe we have now reached an in-principle agreement. A full update on negotiations will be provided shortly. In the meantime below is a brief update.
20 August 2008 [full story]
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Mission Australia agreement certified
The Mission Australia Enterprise Agreement 2005 has been certified in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. The agreement states that after certification of the agreement you will receive your 4% wage increase on the first pay period after the certification.
22 July 2005 [full story]
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Mission Australia agreement signed today
The Mission Australia Enterprise Agreement 2005 is being signed today by the ASU following the successful conclusion to all voting procedures.
20 June 2005 [full story]
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Mission Australia pay day changes continue to be negotiated
The ASU met with Mission Australia representatives before Christmas to stop the implementation of the new pay system over the Christmas break.
01 February 2006 [full story]
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Mission Australia pay day changes have NOT been agreed to!
Mission Australia have informed employees that all unions have signed off on the changes to your pay cycle. This is untrue. Mission Australia has not advised the ASU of any such intention to change your pay day.
02 December 2005 [full story]
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Mission Australia presents final offer
Mission Australia have presented a final offer for your enterprise agreement. This document is being finalised in order to present it to all employees to commence the voting process.
02 May 2005 [full story]
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Mission proposes radical changes to agreement
Mission begins negotiating a new enterprise agreement for community service workers. Mission is beginning a process to negotiate a new enterprise agreement for its staff who are covered by the Social And Community Services Award. This process is being overseen by a new Human Resources team that has started with Mission and they have taken charge of our Enterprise Agreement renegotiation. They are proposing RADICAL changes to your pay and your rights at work.
14 February 2008 [full story]
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Mission workers vote for a union agreement
Mission Australia workers from across the country have overwhelmingly voted (401 to 67!) in support of having a union based collective agreement. Well Done!
28 April 2008 [full story]
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More Government cuts for community workers?
With the community services sector and workers in not-for-profit and charitable services still reeling from the effects of changes to tax arrangements due to come into effect on July 1st, another serious challenge has emerged for the Government in relation to the proposed efficiency dividend of 2% that the Government imposed on most departments as part of the budget.
19 June 2008 [full story]
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Northern Territory SACS members protect their conditions
ASU members employed in Darwin at the Northern Territory Working Womens Centre (NT WWC)and at Carers Northern Territory have this month successfully completed enterprise bargaining negotiations with their employers and protected their employment conditions by having their enterprise agreements certified in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) prior to the Federal Government’s new so called WorkChoices Legilsation being proclaimed.
14 March 2006 [full story]
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Nov 10 SACS rallies and forums in Melbourne and Adelaide
Tuesday 10 November is an important meeting day for social and community services workers in Melbourne and Adelaide. All the meetings relate to our ongoing campaign to achieve fair wages and conditions for SACS sector workers. It is important for the success of the campaign that as many people as possible participate. So don’t just be there in spirit!
08 November 2009 [full story]
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Partial victory for Working Women’s Centres – the fight goes on for Queensland
On April 30 this year, the ASU instigated an email campaign in support of Working Women’s Centres (WWCs) in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland who were facing funding cuts from the Federal Government. Although we have managed to secure funding for SA and NT, the fight goes on for WWCs in Queensland.
10 June 2008 [full story]
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Pressure builds on Federal Government to make changes to SACS salary packaging
As a result of the ASU campaign launched on 5 June 2008, Federal Ministers Jenny Macklin, Joe Ludwig and Wayne Swan have received hundreds of emails from workers affected by the changes that are being made to the way that income is calculated by Centrelink for the purpose of determining Family Assistance payments.
17 June 2008 [full story]
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Proposals for consideration at The Smith Family
At The Smith Family (TSF) negotiations continued throughout September and we can report that whilst progress has been made we still do not have a draft agreement to take to TSF employees for their consideration.
06 October 2004 [full story]
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Queensland Working Women’s Service still left in the dark over ongoing funding
After months of campaigning, letter writing and meetings with departmental officers, the Queensland Working Women’s Service is still waiting for the green light to be switched on in their attempts to gain ongoing funding from the Federal Government for their important service to women in Queensland.
17 October 2008 [full story]
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Respect the Workers, Sustain the Services - Victorian SACS campaign launch
The ‘Respect the Workers Sustain the Services’ Victorian campaign is about non-government social and community services workers ensuring they are valued, have secure jobs and decent wages so they can support the most vulnerable Victorians. Adequately staffed and resourced services are central to addressing such disadvantage.
10 April 2008 [full story]
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SACS delegates take issues to Canberra
This past September, during the last sitting of Federal Parliament in Canberra, ASU National and Branch officials and Social and Community Services (SACS) delegates from NSW, ACT, Victoria, South Australia and Northern Territory went to Canberra to visit key politicians to discuss the ASU’s concerns about wages, training and career paths for our members and funding of this vital industry.
30 September 2007 [full story]
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SACS workers do it for love and money
An historic pay equity case will start in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) tomorrow (Monday, 10 November) aimed at securing pay rises of between $15,000 and $18,000 per year for front line workers in over 2000 social and community service (SACS) organisations in Queensland.
10 November 2008 [full story]
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SACS workers red hot
Today, almost 4,000 social and community services workers from across Victoria came together and rallied on the steps of Parliament, calling on the Brumby Government to fund the sector properly!
10 November 2009 [full story]
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Stop the job cuts in employment services – national protest April 8
Join the national protest – be part of the solution. Wednesday 8th April at 1pm in your capital city. Download the flyer for details. For further information about the campaign visit http://www.saveourjobs.com.au/
06 April 2009 [full story]
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The Smith Family - Employment Advocate Has Not Approved AWAs
The Australian Services Union (ASU) has been advised by the Office of the Employment Advocate that it has not pre-approved The Smith Family AWAs.
18 March 2004 [full story]
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The Smith Family - Talks to Continue - AWAs on Hold
On Friday 26 March 2004 the ASU and The Smith Family management met to discuss the AWAs and the future relationships between the union and the organisation.
29 March 2004 [full story]
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The Smith Family Agree to Meet
Following an exchange of letters and the employee led campaign against AWA’s The Smith Family management have agreed to meet with ASU representatives in Sydney on Friday 26 March 2004 at 2.00pm.
25 March 2004 [full story]
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Time marches on at BoysTown
Your Union, the ASU has recommenced meeting with BoysTown management in an effort to have negotiations for a new agreement for all BoysTown staff put in place.
04 August 2008 [full story]
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Time to participate in Review of Community Services Training Package
The Community Services Training Package CHC02 Review Draft 1 material is now available for stakeholder review & feedback. This follows a recent meeting of the Steering Committee for the Review which is chaired by ASU Assistant National Secretary, Linda White.
21 May 2007 [full story]
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Urgent information on salary packaging and SACS workers
As a result of recommendations by a Howard Government Ministerial Taskforce on Child Support back in May 2005, a number of changes are being made to the way that income is calculated by Centrelink for the purpose of determining Family Assistance payments.
05 June 2008 [full story]
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Vanstone dismisses call to pay SACS shortfall
Federal Family & Community Services Minister Senator Amanda Vanstone has again dismissed our call for her government to pay what it owes our social and community workers.
05 June 2002 [full story]
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Vic SACS: Daniel Andrews - we need to talk!
ASU members working in various Community Health Centres around Victoria are about to kick off industrial action as part of their campaign to improve their wages and conditions.
07 December 2009 [full story]
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Victorian social and community services workforce survey
The ASU Victorian Authorities and Services Branch is embarking on the largest SACS workforce survey undertaken in Victoria. Results will be collated and released at our second annual SACS members conference, to be held on 4th and 5th of September this year. The results will be used to support our campaign claims to improve workforce issues in the sector and related submissions.
25 July 2008 [full story]
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Walking the dog better paid than caring for the homeless
People paid to walk dogs earn more than those who care for homeless people, a new wage analysis by the Australian Services Union (ASU) has found, highlighting a crisis in the community services sector and state of neglect pay rates are in.
23 April 2008 [full story]
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What’s been happening at The Smith Family
Your representatives on the Classification Working Group (CWG) have been working hard to put together a package that ensures that ASU member’s rates of pay are no less than their award rates. This is no easy feat given that there are different awards in each state and territory. We were also seeking to achieve a structure that can be applied consistently and logically and that will maintain its integrity over time, not just in the near future.
25 November 2005 [full story]
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Women of Tasmania need your support!
The Working Women’s Centre Tasmania (WWCT) will close on the 17 August 2006 unless the State Government can be convinced to pick up the funding abandoned by the Howard Government.
02 August 2006 [full story]
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Women’s pay catches up with men … 66 days late
Saturday marks Equal Pay Day, held 66 days after the end of the financial year, to acknowledge the moment when women will finally have earned the same amount, on average, that men earn in a year.
03 September 2010 [full story]
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Workers at Victorian AIDS Council / Gay Men’s Health Centre commence industrial action
Members of the Australian Services Union working at the Victorian Aids Council/Gay Men’s Health Centre began their industrial action yesterday, June 19. Members have reluctantly imposed a variety of work bans, which will continue to operate until the outstanding issues are resolved. In addition, stop work meetings are scheduled to take place later in the month.
20 June 2006 [full story]
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Workers rally against Job Network decision
Unemployed job placement workers and their supporters will rally around the nation today at protest meetings against the Federal Government’s Job Network decision.
08 April 2009 [full story]
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Workforce development on agenda in Homelessness White Paper
The ASU welcomes the Federal Government’s White Paper, “The Road Home – A National Approach to Homelessness” announcement to halve homelessness by 2020 and the recognition of the importance of a well trained, well resourced and well paid workforce if the Government’s targets are to be met.
22 December 2008 [full story]
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Working Women’s Centres nationwide may close
National Working Women’s Centres (NWWCs) in Queensland, Northern Territory and South Australia are facing closure as a result of verbal advice by Julia Gillard’s office that the Federal Government will not renew their funding. The ASU is urging you to support the Centres and the workers they assist by sending an email asking for funding to be maintained.
30 April 2008 [full story]
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